Branching device for an electric line

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a branching device ( 1, 25 ) for at least one electric line. The branching device exhibits branching contacts and a housing ( 2 ) in which at least one electrically conducting wire terminal ( 11 ) is accommodated in a holder ( 10, 26 ). The device is characterised in that contact lips ( 44, 46 ) with cutting edges ( 48 ) for cutting through the insulation ( 25 ) of the wires ( 50 ) of the electric line are provided on the wire terminal ( 11 ), in that the wire terminals ( 11 ) represent the branching contacts and in that a through-channel ( 47 ) for the uninterrupted passage of a wire ( 50 ) is provided in each wire terminal ( 11 ).

This invention relates to a branching device for at least one electricline according to the generic term of Claim 1.

Normally in the planning of buildings, the supply lines for power, data,mains water and waste water are also planned. Primarily with industrialstructures it often happens however that too few branching boxes areprovided and further branches must be installed later. For theretrofitted installation of electric lines, for example cables for datalinks or for the supply of energy, existing lines must be interruptedand in addition fitted with new branching boxes. The disadvantage withthe installation of known branching boxes is that the lines in theregion of the branches are too short, because the connection points mustbe located within the branching boxes. Normally therefore, the electricline is parted and the now free ends of its wires are accommodatedindividually in wire terminals in the branching box. The retrofittedinstallation therefore involves a great deal of work and is expensive.

The object of this invention is to provide branching devices forelectric lines, with which line branches compared to conventionalbranching devices are especially easier to install or to retrofit.

This object is solved by a branching device with the features of Claim1.

Using such a branching device, a line branch can be installed quickly,economically and safely. To do this, only the outer insulation of theline is removed before the wires are pressed individually into thethrough-channel in their respective wire terminals from above. Oninserting the wire into the through-channel the contact lips with theircutting edges penetrate the wire insulation, thus providing anelectrical contact between the wire and the wire terminal. The wirestherefore no longer need to be cut off in the region of the branchaccording to the invention and reinstalled at their ends. So it nolonger occurs that the wires in the branching device are too short. Inaddition, only the wire insulation is penetrated, whereas its conductingcore runs uninterrupted through the through-channel. Consequently, thetensile capability of the wire is retained, which signifies an enormousgain in safety.

It is particularly practicable when the through-channel runs in astraight line through the wire terminal (cord clamp). In this case thematerial stress is the lowest for the wire, because it is not or onlyslightly stretched.

Advantageously, the wire terminals (cord clamps) are accommodatedloosely in the holder in the housing. Then they can be easily exchanged,for example to insert wire terminals of a different type with a wider ornarrower through-channel.

A type of branching device is preferred with which at least a number ofwire terminals is provided corresponding to the number of wires to bebranched, so that each wire in the electric line can be accommodated inits own wire terminal.

It is conceivable that on one wire terminal at least one connecting lugis provided. This may be of a known type and be used for fastening thebranching contact and for electrical connection to the branched wire.

It has been found advantageous to provide the contact lips in pairs on awire terminal. The paired contact lips can then form the through-channelfor the wire between them and ensure that the wire insulation ispenetrated from both sides.

Preferably the distance between two paired contact lips is not greaterthan the diameter of a wire. This ensures that the cutting edges of thecontact lips actually cut the wire insulation through to the conductingcore, establishing contact to this conducting core.

The edges of paired contact lips facing the through-channel can forexample run parallel to one another in sections. In this region theconducting core of the wire is held without it sliding out to one sideof the through-channel.

In order to be able to insert the wires easier into their wireterminals, two paired contact lips can form with one another an entrysection for the wire in that the distance between the contact lipswidens towards an entry side of the through-channel. In this way thecontact lips form together a funnel on their entry side into which thewire can be placed and positioned before being pressed into thethrough-channel.

Preferably at least one of the contact lips is flexible in a directionaligned away from the through-channel so that it allows a widening ofthe through-channel. This means it can adapt itself to the diameter ofthe conducting wire core and firmly clamp it in the through-channel dueto its restoring force.

A notch can be provided between the wire terminal and its holder. Thenthe wire terminal can be fastened in the holder before retrofitting thebranch. This is especially of advantage when the branching box is to bemounted overhead and the wire terminals would otherwise drop out oftheir holder.

Further, there is also the possibility of forming the holder of the wireterminals so that it is attached releasably on the housing. The holdercan then be replaced, for example, if wire terminals for a differenttype of wire are needed.

A branching device, with which a common holder for all wire terminals isprovided, is particularly easy to install. Then all wire terminals canbe removed from or inserted into their common holder all at once.

In a preferred variation of the invention at least one holding-downclamp for the wires is provided which holds the wires in thethrough-channels of the wire terminals. After the installation of thebranch the holding-down clamp prevents the wires from becomingunintentionally released from the through-channels and being able tointerrupt the electrical contact.

It is also conceivable that at least one common holding-down clamp isprovided for all wires. After placing the wires into thethrough-channels of the wire terminals, all wires in the electric linecan then be fastened all at once. This simplifies the fitting of thebranch. The holding-down clamp(s) can, for example, be formed such thatthey represent a closing off of the openings formed between the contactlips. The insertion of the holding-down clamp in particular closes thethrough-channels so that the wires cannot come loose from thethrough-channels.

Preferably the holding-down clamp(s) are latchable with the holder ofthe wire terminals. If the line has to be replaced at some time, thenthe holding-down clamp and wire terminal holder can be replaced quicklytogether. Moreover, the holding-down clamp is fastened during theinstallation of the branching device.

To fasten the holding-down clamp in this way, the holding-down clamp(s)can also be latchable directly with the housing.

It has proven practicable if the holding-down clamp exhibits atransverse plate, having holes and closing off the through-channels, andthrough which the connecting lugs of the wire terminals protrude. Thetransverse plate then provides separation between the region of thethrough-channels and the region of the connecting lugs and ensures thatthe branched lines are mounted at the intended positions on the wireterminals.

There is the possibility that seals are provided on the housing at theoutlets for the line. In particular in dirty or damp environments theseals prevent the ingress of foreign particles into the branchingdevice, which may have been able to impair its operation.

The seals can for example be formed as sealing rings with a side notchfor inserting the line. This type of sealing ring is particularly easyto install as a single-part element.

Preferably the housing of the branching device can be put together froma housing base section and a housing upper section. Then during theinstallation of the branch, for example, first the wires can beaccommodated in the wire terminals provided in the housing base sectionbefore the housing upper section is placed on top as a protective cap.

In order to be able to better fasten the housing base section and thehousing upper section together, they can in particular be screwedtogether.

In order to increase safety, strain-relief can be provided on thehousing of the branching device at the outlets for the line. This can,for example, be realised in that the lines are firmly clamped at theoutlets. Consequently, the transfer of the tensile force on the partscontained in the branching device is prevented, in particular to thewire terminals.

In the following two advantageous embodiments of the branching deviceaccording to the invention are presented based on a drawing.

In detail the following are shown:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of a branching deviceaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 a perspective view of a second embodiment of a branching deviceaccording to the invention,

FIG. 3 a perspective view of a wire terminal (cord clamp) which can beused in the branching device according to the invention,

FIG. 4 a partially sectioned plan view of the wire terminal (cord clamp)with inserted wire,

FIG. 5 a perspective view of a holder for the wire terminals, and

FIG. 6 a perspective view of a holding-down clamp.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a branching device 1 according to theinvention. It exhibits a housing 2, which can be assembled from ahousing base section 3 and a housing upper section 4. The two housingsections 3, 4 can be formed from one plastic material, for example byinjection moulding. In the plan view the two housing sections 3, 4 havean approximate rectangular cross-section. The housing upper section 4can be screwed to the housing base section 3. For this, through openings6 are provided on side shoulders 5 at each of the four corners of thehousing upper section 4. On placing the housing upper section 4 onto thebase section 3, these openings 6 align with holes 7 in the housing basesection 3. Internal threads are provided in these holes 7 in which ascrew inserted through the openings 6 can engage.

On the short sides of their rectangular cross-sections semi-circularrecesses 8 are provided both in the housing base section 3 and in thehousing upper section 4. The recesses 8 are arranged such that circularopenings 9 are formed on assembling the housing. These are the outlets 9through which a line (not shown) is brought out and into the housing 2.

In the housing base section 3 three holders 10 for wire terminals (cordclamps) 11 are mounted. In this embodiment the holders 10 arepermanently joined to the housing base section 3, for example, by asingle-part formation. Each holder 10 defines an eight-sided locatingspace 12 in which a wire terminal 11 can be inserted from above. Thelocation space 12 is bounded by two side walls 13 which each have anapproximate U-shaped cross-section. The walls 13 of the holder 10 arearranged such that a straight through-channel is formed between them,which is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 2.On the inside of the location space 12 latching elements (not shown),which can be latched into the notches 14 in the wire terminals 11, arelocated in the holder 10. In this way the wire terminal 11 can be heldreleasably in the holder 10.

Each wire terminal (cord clamp) 11 is used for the accommodation of onesingle wire of an electric line. The illustrated embodiment of abranching device 1 can therefore be used for branching electric lineswith up to three wires.

The branching device 1 is illustrated in a state in which two wireterminals 11 are inserted into two of the holders 10. Connecting lugs 15on the wire terminals 11 protrude above the top of the holders 10. Theshape of the connecting lugs 15 as such is known. They have centrally athrough-hole 16 through which a wire to be branched can be passed.

A third wire terminal 11 is shown outside of its holder 10. The exactshape and functioning principle of the wire terminals 11 is describedbased on FIGS. 3 and 4.

A holding-down clamp 17 can furthermore be seen in FIG. 1. Its lengthcorresponds approximately to the internal width of the housing basesection 3. The holding-down clamp 17 exhibits a transverse plate 18which lies on the top of the holders 10 parallel to the bottom of thehousing base section 3, once the holding-down clamp has been inserted.In the transverse plate 18 longitudinal openings (not shown) areprovided through which the connecting lugs 15 of the wire terminals 11can protrude.

Three wire guides 19 protrude from the underside of the transverse plate18 and between them two latching elements 20 protrude. The wire guides19 are positioned such that they protrude into the inner space of thewire terminals 11 when the holding-down clamp 17 is inserted. Each wireguide 19 has the shape of an inverted U, between the two legs of which awire can be passed. In the assembled state the bottom of the U-shapedwire guide 19 provides a spacing of the wire from the transverse plate18 of the holding-down clamp 17. To obtain this spacing, the wire mustbe pressed into the wire terminal 11. The latching elements 20 each havea cross-section corresponding to two “L” shapes facing one another. Oninserting the holding-down clamp 17 into the housing 2, they can latchwith corresponding latching elements between the holders 10 on thehousing base section 3. In this way the holding-down clamp 17 is heldreleasably on the housing base section 3.

In the housing base section 3 sealing rings 21 are furthermore mountedwhich align with the recesses 8. The sealing rings 21, which for exampleare formed from rubber, provide sealing for the assembled housing 2 withrespect to the housing external environment. Consequently, they preventthe ingress of dirt and moisture into the interior of the housing. Eachsealing ring 21 exhibits a side cut 22. Due to the flexibility of thesealing rings 21, they can be opened at the cut 22 in order to permitthe insertion of a line into the sealing ring 21. The flexibility of thematerial leads to them fitting snugly around the electric line when thehousing base section 3 is assembled with the housing upper section 4.Here, the sealing rings 21 can even be partially compressed to increasetheir sealing effect.

Two indentations 23 are provided in the top of the housing upper section4. They are each used for the accommodation of the end of a line to bebranched, the wires of which can be passed through openings in thebottom of the indentation 23 into the interior of the housing 2 so thatthey can be connected to the connection contacts formed as connectinglugs 15. The indentations 23 have a hexagonal cross-section. Thebranching device 25 could also be formed such that correspondingconnecting plugs for the branched line with a hexagonal outer shape canbe plugged into the hexagonal indentations 23.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a branching device 25 according tothe invention. Parts, which match those of the branching device 1, aredesignated with the same reference symbols. The main difference withrespect to the first embodiment is that with the branching device 25 acommon holder 26 for all three wire terminals 11 is provided. Thisholder 26 is illustrated separately based on FIG. 5. The holder 26consists of a single-part component of an insulating material, forexample plastic. It has a base plate 27, from the upper side of whichwalls 28 protrude at right angles, which each form in pairs a locatingspace 12 between them for a wire terminal 11. The walls 28 are formedand arranged such that the locating space 12 formed between them canaccommodate an essentially octagonal wire terminal 11.

In contrast to the first embodiment, with the branching device 25 thewire terminal holder 26 and a holding-down clamp 29 can be latchedtogether directly before they are inserted together in a correspondingrecess 30 in the housing base section 3. The recess 30 is formed by twotransverse walls 31 which accommodate the holder 26 closely betweenthem. On the top of the transverse walls 31 slots 32 are formed toprovide guidance for the wires.

FIG. 2 shows the branching device 25 in a situation in which the holder26 and the holding-down clamp 29 are latched together. In addition thetwo connecting lugs 15 of a wire terminal 11 (cord clamp) which protrudeupwards above a transverse plate 33 of the holding-down clamp 29 can beseen. The connecting lugs 15, which here represent the branchingcontact, are therefore located in a connecting lug compartment 34 on theupper side of the holding-down clamp 29. Each connecting lug compartment34 is assigned to a single wire terminal 11 and is separated from theother connecting lug compartments 34 by insulating partitions 35. Thesereduce the risk of an electrical short circuit between adjacent wires.

Another difference to the first embodiment is that with the branchingdevice 25 strain relief is provided on each outlet 9 on the housing 2.This strain relief includes semi-circular clamping pieces 36 of a hardplastic, which are inserted into each recess 8 on the housing basesection 3 or on the housing upper section 4. Wing sections 37 protrudeto the sides of the clamping pieces 36. On assembling the branchingdevice 25 the clamping pieces 36 are inserted with their wings 37 intocorresponding grooves on the housing sections 3, 4 and thus fastenedwith respect to the housing 2. An adjusting screw 38 is assigned to atleast one of the paired clamping pieces 36. It is accessible from theoutside of the housing 2—in the illustrated embodiment from the outsideof the housing upper section 4. When this adjustment screw 38 istightened, it moves the two clamping pieces 36 that are associated toone another closer together. A cable, i.e. the electric line, lyingbetween the two clamping pieces 36 is then clamped by the clampingpieces 36. If now a pull on the cable occurs from outside, then thetension is transferred to the housing 2 of the branching device 25 bythe clamping pieces 36, instead of, for example, leading to the wiresbeing pulled from their wire terminals 11 inside the housing.

The illustrated branching devices 1, 25 are each suitable for branchingtwo new lines from an electric line with up to three wires.

In FIG. 3 a wire terminal 11 is shown which can be used in the branchingdevices 1, 25 according to the invention. It is of one piece made from aconducting material, for example a metal and exhibits a constant wallthickness. It can consequently be produced, for example by bending, froma flat piece of metal.

The outline of the wire terminal 11 is approximately octagonal with twoopposing long side walls 40 and two short sides 41, 42 orthogonal tothem. The diagonal sides 43 extend between the short side 41 and thelong sides 40. Analogously, the diagonal sides 44 extend between theshort side 42 and the long sides 40.

The long sides 40 are mirror images of one another. Their top sectionforms in each case a connecting lug 15 with a central through hole 16.At the lower end of the side wall 40 there is a cut-out which laterallyexhibits notches 14 formed as latching shoulders. They are used forlatching the wire terminal 11 to the holder 10, 26.

The short side 41 is divided into a bottom section and a top section,which are separated from one another by a horizontal cut 45. The cut 45extends over the short side 41 and the adjacent diagonal sides 43. Thebottom section of the short side 41 forms the connection between the twosides of the wire terminal 11. The top sections of the two diagonalsides 43 form in each case a contact lip 46. Due to the cuts 45, thecontact lips 46 have a certain flexibility and can be moved inparticular with respect to the bottom section of the diagonal sides 43.The short side 41 is open between the two contact lips 46 and henceforms a through-channel 47 open at the top. The opposing walls of thepaired contact lips 46 run vertically and parallel to one another inthis region. Since the contact lips 46 are located diagonally to theshort side 41, but are cut off perpendicular to their outer surfaces,the narrowest point of the through-channel 47 is determined by the twoparallel edges 48. Since the tips of these edges 48 protrude into thethrough-channel 47, they represent cutting edges to a wire to be laidinto the through-channel 47. In an upper section of the contact lips 46the spacing between them widens towards an entry side of thethrough-channel 47. In this region the paired contact lips 46 form anentry section 49 which guides the wire in like a funnel during insertioninto the through-channel 47.

On the short side 42 the wire terminal 11 is completely open, so thatthis side of its octagonal outline is free. The adjacent diagonal sides44 of the wire terminal 11 also represent contact lips, between whichthe through-channel 47 for the wire runs. Sine the sides 41 and 42 areexactly opposite, the through-channel 47 overall passes straight throughthe wire terminal 11. The contact lips 44 are, apart from larger height,cut exactly as the contact lips 46. Therefore, they, too, exhibitcutting edges 48, the tips of which protrude into the through-channel47. Apart from an upper entry section 49, they run vertically andparallel to one another.

In FIG. 4 a wire terminal 11 is shown with a wire 50 inserted in it. Ithas a conducting metal core 51 and an insulation 52 consisting of softplastic. The wire 50 has been pressed from above into thethrough-channel 47 via the entry section 49. On the left side it can beseen in section that the contact lips 44, 46 have with their cuttingedges cut through the insulation 52 and cut into the conducting core 51of the wire 50, because the spacing between the cutting edges 48 issmaller than the diameter of the metal core 51. In this way anelectrical contact between the metal core 51 and the wire terminal 11has been made.

The single-piece holder 26 shown in FIG. 5 has already been explained inconjunction with the description of FIG. 2. Since the locating spaces 12for the wire terminals 11 have a somewhat longitudinally extensiveshape, corresponding to that of the wire terminals 11, they define theorientation in which the wire terminals 11 can be inserted into theholder 26. This is only possible in an orientation for which thethrough-channels 47 of the wire terminals 11 run orthogonally to theholder 26, i.e. orthogonally to its base plate 27.

At each of the four corners of the holder 26 protrusions 53 are formed.The spacing between two adjacent protrusions 53 is just as large orslightly larger than the width of a latching lip 54, which (as shown inFIG. 5) protrudes downwards on the holding down clamp 29 orthogonallyfrom the transverse plate 33. The latching lip 54 is so long that itextends over the holder 26. Alternatively, the latching lip 54 couldalso be latchable in a side groove or indentation on the holder 26. Theother elements of the holding-down clamp 29 shown in FIG. 6 have alreadybeen described in conjunction with FIG. 1 or 2, in particular theU-shaped wire guides 19, the latching elements 20, the three connectinglug spaces 34 or the partitions 35 located between them.

For the installation of a line branch, first the housing 2 of thebranching device 1 resp. 25 is opened. The insulation of the electricline is removed over the length of the housing 2, before it is insertedthrough the cuts 22 in the sealing rings 21. Each wire 50 of theelectric line is placed individually into a wire terminal 11 held in aholder 10, 26, so that the wire 50 lies on the two entry sections 49,open upwards, of the through-channel 47.

In the next step the holding-down clamp 17, 29 is put into place fromabove. The pressing down of the holding-down clamp 17, 29 causes thewire 50 to be grasped by the U-shaped wire guide 19 and forced into thethrough-channel 47. In doing so, the cutting edges 48 cut through firstthe insulation 52 of the wire 50. Once the wire 50 has been pushed deepenough into the through-channel 47, the cutting edges 48 cut into theconducting core 51 of the wire 50, thus establishing the electricalcontact between the wire 50 and the wire terminal 11. Finally, theholding-down clamp 17, 29 is seated on the holder 10, 26 and closes offthe through-channels 47 at the top. Once the holding-down clamp 17, 29is latched with the housing base section 3 and the holder 10, 26, it isensured that the connecting lugs 15 of the wire terminal 11 protrude farenough above the top of the transverse plate 18, 33 of the holding-downclamp 17, 26. In particular the connecting lugs 15 protrude so far abovethe transverse plate 18, 33 that the through holes 16 in the connectinglugs 15 are free. They therefore form the connecting contacts to whichthe wires of the lines to be branched and passed through theindentations 23 can be connected.

Once this connecting contact has been made and the holder 26, wireterminals 11 and holding-down clamp 17, 29 are arranged in the housingbase section 3, the housing 2 can be closed. To do this, the housingupper section 4 is placed on the housing base section 3 and screwedtogether with the housing base section 3 through the aligned openings 6,7. To provide the strain relief the adjustment screws 38 are alsotightened until the clamping pieces 36 clamp together the electric linewith a sufficiently high force. Finally, the branching device 1, 25 canbe mounted in the building.

The branching devices according to the invention can deviate in manyways from the described embodiments of the branching devices 1 and 25.For example, to branch electric lines with more or less wires,appropriately more or less wire terminals 11 can be provided. These can,as in the devices 1 and 25, be arranged adjacently; they could howeveralso be arranged offset from one another to save space. In this respectall variants of fixed holders 10 or releasable holders 26 areconceivable.

Also the number of branched lines does not have to be two. Just as well,a single branched line could be produced or also the possibility forthree or more branched lines could be provided. In addition branchingdevices are conceivable with which branching from more than one electricline occurs parallel to one another. Overall the combination n·m·k,where n is the number of entering electric lines, which each exhibit mwires and k branched electric lines, is almost freely selectable. Foreach of the n electric lines preferably dedicated housing outlets 9,sealing rings 21 and strain relief with clamps 36 would be provided.

According to the number k of branched lines also more or fewerconnecting lugs 15 can be provided per wire terminal 11.

The holding-down clamp 17, 29 must not necessarily be formed as a commonholding-down clamp for all wire terminals 11. It is conceivable thatalso individual holding-down clamps, which each hold down one individualwire 50 in their wire terminal 11, could be used.

Instead of running parallel to one another, paired cutting edges 48could also be formed concave, so that the spacing widens between them inthe centre of the concave shape. When a wire 50 is inserted, the contactlips 46 would widen slightly due to their flexibility. Once the wirelies in the concave part, the contact lips 46 close around the wirewhich is then securely held in the concave part.

Finally, the housing 2 could also be formed as a single part whereby thehousing parts could be made movable by a hinge, e.g. a film hinge.

1. A branching device for at least one electric line, the branchingdevice comprising: a housing; and at least one electrically conductingwire terminal that provides a branching contact, is accommodated in aholder, and includes contact lips with cutting edges for cutting throughinsulation of a wire to be connected to the wire terminal; wherein: theat least one wire terminal further includes at least one connecting lug,a through-channel for the uninterrupted passage of the wire, and atleast one holding-down clamp which holds the wires in thethrough-channel of the wire terminals; at least one of the contact lipsis located diagonally to the through-channel so that the tip of the edgeof the contact lip protrudes into the through-channel; at least one ofthe contact lips is flexible in a direction pointing away from thethrough-channel; and the holding-down clamp exhibits a transverse platethat closes off the through-channel and has an opening through which theconnecting lug of the wire terminal protrudes. 2-24. (canceled)
 25. Abranching device according to claim 1, wherein the wire terminalexhibits a generally octagonal outline with two opposing longer sides,two shorter sides orthogonal to the longer sides, and diagonal sidessituated between the longer and shorter sides, and wherein the at leastone holder includes a corresponding octagonal locating space foraccommodating the wire terminal.
 26. A branching device according toclaim 1, wherein the contact lips are generally aligned with thediagonal sides of the wire terminal.
 27. A branching device according toclaim 1, wherein the through-channel runs in a straight line through thewire terminal.
 28. A branching device according to claim 1, wherein thewire terminal is accommodated releasably in the holder.
 29. A branchingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a number ofwire terminals corresponding to at least a number of wires to bebranched.
 30. A branching device according to claim 1, wherein thecontact lips are provided in pairs in each case on a wire terminal. 31.A branching device according to claim 30, wherein the spacing betweentwo paired contact lips is less than or equal to the diameter of a wireto be connected to the wire terminal.
 32. A branching device accordingto claim 30, wherein the edges of paired contact lips facing thethrough-channel run parallel to one another at least in sections.
 33. Abranching device according to claim 30, wherein two paired contact lipstogether form an entry section for the wire, with a spacing between thecontact lips widening towards an entry side of the through-channel. 34.A branching device according to claim 1, wherein a notch is providedbetween the wire terminal and its holder.
 35. A branching deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the holder of the wire terminals isattached releasably to the housing.
 36. A branching device according toclaim 1, further comprising multiple wire terminals and a common holderfor all of the wire terminals.
 37. A branching device according to claim1, further comprising at least one common holding-down clamp for allwires.
 38. A branching device according to claim 1, wherein theholding-down clamp represents a closure of the openings formed betweenthe contact lips.
 39. A branching device according to claim 1, whereinthe holding-down clamp can be latched to the holder of the wireterminal.
 40. A branching device according to claim 1, wherein theholding-down clamp can be latched to the housing.
 41. A branching deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein seals are provided on the housing at theoutlets for the line.
 42. A branching device according to claim 41,wherein the seals are formed as sealing rings with a side cut forinserting the line.
 43. A branching device according to claim 1, whereinthe housing is assembled from a housing base section and a housing uppersection.
 44. A branching device according to claim 43, wherein thehousing base section and the housing upper section can be screwedtogether.
 45. A branching device according to claim 1, wherein strainrelief is provided on the housing at the outlets for the lines.